Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Mohammed Adams Sukparu, has sounded an alarm over the proliferation of fake social media accounts inciting violence in Bawku and nearby communities.
His warning follows a tragic shooting incident in Garu in the Upper East Region that left four people dead on October 20, 2025.
The attack occurred near the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) office, where eyewitnesses reported that four gunmen on two motorbikes opened fire indiscriminately, killing a bystander, an NHIA staff member, a mentally challenged man, and Yahaya Bukari, the headmaster of Garu D/A Junior High School, who was struck while attempting to shield students from the gunfire.
Hon. Sukparu attributed much of the renewed tension in Bawku to misinformation spread through online platforms, explaining that anonymous individuals use fabricated accounts to disseminate falsehoods that inflame ethnic divisions and perpetuate hostility in the region.
“These days, social media is also not helping. People create unnecessary tension by just creating pseudo accounts and saying things that are not true. These are things that are fueling it. It used not to be like this in the past”
Hon. Mohammed Adams Sukparu, Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations
He added that such accounts have made peaceful coexistence increasingly difficult, as communities that once lived side by side in tolerance are now divided by digital propaganda.
According to the Deputy Minister, these fake profiles not only frequently publish inflammatory statements targeting entire ethnic groups, with the intent to provoke and endanger lives, but make conflict resolution efforts by the government and other stakeholders very difficult.
Stressing that digital spaces can no longer be left unchecked, as malicious actors exploit them to coordinate unrest and spread incitement, Hon. Sukparu urged security agencies to heighten their vigilance in monitoring online activity that poses risks to public safety.
“Entire conversations should be checked,” he said, urging the agencies to immediately flag suspicious individuals and conversations, thereby putting the general public on alert to not respond to such online baits. “Security should be able to check some of these things,” he insisted.
He also called on Parliament to expedite deliberations on a Bill currently under consultation, which seeks to regulate online communications and curb the spread of misinformation and impersonation.
“It will help matters if the Bill is passed,” Hon. Sukparu added, emphasising that once passed, the law would provide a firmer legal basis for dealing with digital deception and cyber-provoked unrest.
Response to Illegal Mining
Beyond digital safety, Hon. Sukparu also waded into the national debate over whether a state of emergency should be declared to tackle illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
He expressed support for Ghana Water Limited’s Managing Director, Adam Mutawakilu, who had earlier dismissed such calls, arguing that sustainable policies – not emergency measures – were needed to address the environmental and social challenges linked to galamsey.
“With how this government has handled this issue, I don’t think that there’s a need for us to declare a state of emergency. The President has shown commitment to fighting galamsey, and so far, we’re seeing results”
Hon. Mohammed Adams Sukparu, Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations
He said before President John Dramani Mahama assumed office, many forest reserves had been taken over by illegal miners. However, ongoing interventions by the current administration have led to the recovery of several affected areas.
He noted that these interventions include the reclamation of forest lands and the revocation of mining licences issued under questionable circumstances.
The Deputy Minister of Communication reaffirmed that the government’s digital and environmental strategies are interconnected – safeguarding online discourse from misinformation while ensuring that the country’s natural resources are protected from exploitation.
He underscored that responsible communication, both online and offline, is essential to maintaining peace and national stability, particularly in regions vulnerable to conflict.
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